Sensitive matter-tracking deviation-correcting device

ABSTRACT

A device for preventing tracking deviation in transporting sensitive material between a pair of driving and driven rollers. The driven roller is supported at either end by independent supporting arms, and each supporting arm is independently spring mounted on a common shaft to provide for engagement and disengagement of the rollers and also to provide uniform pressure of the driving roller during tracking.

References Cited Kinzelman 226/198 X pair of driving and ed at either end by upporting arm is in- 226/176, 226/187 G1lb115/24 Sake F ujimoto Tokyo, Japan Appl. No. 785,259 [22] Filed Dec. 19, I968 [45] Patented June 29, 197i Kflbusliiki Knisha Ricoh Tokyo,Japan Dec. 26, 1967 Japan 42/108819 CORRECTING DEVICE 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

Int.

Inventor United States Patent [73] Assignee [32] Priority s41 SENSITIVE MATTER-TRACKING DEVIATION- 7 a 3 7 m 7 3 es? x e m m eon A 4 oeee 5 3 b FEE o 1 E 3 G O 3 SENSITIVE MATTER-TRACKING DEVIATIIGN- CORRECTING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image printer and more particularly a device for correcting the tracking deviation of sensitive matters for use with the image printer of the type in which'the images produced upon the face of cathode ray tube are sequentially photographed upon a roll of sensitive matter.

In the conventional image printer, the ends of the central shaft of the pressure roller for transporting the sensitive matters are supported by two arms made as an integral unit so that tracking difficulty, that is the difficulty that the pressure roller is not pressed against a driving roller for driving the pressure roller with uniform force along the whole pressure-contact surfaces therebetween, tends to occur. Therefore, the sensitive matter which is held between the pressure and driving rollers for advancement tends to deviate its travel direction, that is the sensitive matter is deviated either to the right or left in the axial direction of the roller.

In view of the above, the present invention has for its object to prevent the tracking difficulty, that is to prevent the sensitive paper from being deviated to the right or the left along the axial direction of the roller from the correct track of the sensitive matter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the aspect of the present invention, both ends of the shaft of the pressure roller are supported by independent supporting arms respectively in such a manner that both of the independent supporting arms can be suitably adjusted so that the pressure roller is uniformly pressed against the driving roller thereby preventing the deviation of the tracking direction of the sensitive matter. The above described independent supporting arms are carried by a common shaft, and fitted with two adjustment rings which may be held in position stationarily at suitable positions over the common shaft. Between the adjustment rings and the independent supporting arms are interposed springs respectively so that the pressure roller may be pressed against the driving roller with suitable pressure from the springs through the independent supporting arms. The pressing force can be suitably adjusted by displacing the adjustment rings to suitable positions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of an image printer provided with a sensitive-matter-tracking deviation-correcting device according to the present invention with a part of a case thereof being removed;

FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the baseplate thereof illustrating a sensitive-matter-driving mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating essential parts of a pressure roller device; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. l and 2 reference numeral ll designates a cathode ray tube 2; an inner case in which is disposed the cathode ray tube 11 and which has a through bore 2a; 3 and 4, guide rods extending in the inner case 2; 5, a main body having a film-driving section disposed therein; 6, a lensmounting plate or stand made integral with a vertically extending lens seat'6a; and 7, a stopper for the lens stand 6 having a plurality of stopper pins 70, each having different lengths, and the same number of grooves 7b with that of the stopper pins 70. A stopper 3 for a main body 5 is provided with a plurality of stopper pins 8a, each having a different length, and with the same number of grooves 8b with that of the stopper pins 3a. An outer case 9 is provided with a door 10 attached to the outer case 3 by means of hinges iii. A journal 12 formed integral with the guide rod 3 is provided with a pivot 113. A baseplate M of the main body 5 is provided with a through bone 14a into which is fitted loosely the pivot 13 and arcuate slots Mb and 14c with the center of these arcuate slots being the center of the through bore Ma. Journals l5 and 16 are formed integral with the guide rod 4. Stop screws 17 and 118 are respectively fitted into the arcuate slots Mb and so as to hold stationarily in position the baseplate Ml relative to the journals l5 and H6. The side surface of the lends stand 6 engages with one of the stopper pins 7a while the side surface of the baseplate M, with one of the stopper pins 8a. A pulse motor 13 is securely mounted upon the rear surface of the baseplate M by means of an L-shaped securing member 20. A toothed wheel 21 is carried at the extreme end of the shaft 19a of the pulse motor 19 and is in mesh with a toothed wheel 22 which is formed integral with a driving roller 23. Reference numerals 24 and 25 designate intermediate toothed wheels; and 26, a toothed wheel for driving a winding shaft 27 which is secured to the baseplate I4. Adjustment rings 27a and 27b are rotatably carried by the shaft 27 and are adapted to be held stationarily in position relative to the shaft 27 at any position thereof. Stationary supporting arms 28 and 29 are secured to the shaft 27 while movable supporting arms 30 and 311 are loosely fitted over the shaft 27. Springs 32 and 33 are interposed between the adjustment rings 27a and 27b and the movable supporting arms 30 and 311 respectively in such a manner that one end each of the springs 32 and 33 is fixedly secured to the adjustment rings 27a and 27b respectively while the other end of each spring is fixedly secured to the movable supporting arms 30 and 31 respectively. Cams 35 and 36 engage with the side surfaces of the movable supporting arms 30 and 31 respectively. A handle 37 is secured to a shaft 34. A shaft 38 is rotatably received by journal holes 30a and 31a of the movable supporting arms 30 and 31. An auxiliary roller 39 is rotatably carried by the shaft 38 and is provided with a stopper 40. A disc brake 411 is adapted to engage with the outer periphery of the auxiliary roller 39 so as to impart thereto the frictional resistance. The retarding force of the disc brake 411 can be adjusted by a bolt 42, a nut 43 and a spring M and the rotation of the disc brake 41 can be stopped by means of a pin 43 secured to the movable supporting arm 30. A pressure roller 46 is made integral with the shaft 38 and a spring 47 is interposed between the auxiliary roller 39 and the rib 16a of the pressure roller 46, and when the spring 47 is loaded, the pressure roller 46 is imparted with the force which tends to rotate the pressure roller in the direction opposite to the normal direction of rotation of the pressure roller 36. Manually operated levers 37a and 47b are provided in order to mount magazines 48a and 43b upon the baseplate 14. A lever 49 is adapted to detect whether the sensitive matter exists or not and to actuate a microswitch 50. A stop screw 51 is attached to the lens stand 6, and a lens barrel 52 is securely fixed to the lens seat 6a. An image produced by the cathode ray tube 1 is focused upon the cylindrical surface of the driving roller 23 through the lends 52.

Next the mode of operation of the sensitive-matter-tracking deviation-correcting device having the construction as described hereinabove according to the present invention will be described hereinafter. First the magazines 48a and 48am mounted on the baseplate M by the manually operated levers 37a and 47b. Next the handle 37 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. l, so that the movable supporting arms 30 and 311 are pushed by the projected peripheries of the earns 35 and 36 respectively, whereby the pressure roller 36 is disengaged from the driving roller 23 against the springs 32 and 33. The sensitivematter is withdrawn from the magazine 453b, engaged with the pressure roller 46 and the driving roller 23 and inserted into the magazine 48a for winding. Thereafter, the handle 37 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow A so that the side surfaces of the movable arms 30 and 31 engage with the lower peripheries of the cams 35 and 36 respectively, whereby the movable supporting arms 30 and 31 are pushed by the springs 32 and 33, thereby engaging the pressure roller 46 with the driving roller 23 so as to hold the sensitive matter therebetween. After the sensitive matter has been set as described above, the pulse motor 19 is driven. Then the driving roller 23 rotates at a predetermined rotational speed and through a predetermined angle determined depending upon the change of the images of the cathode ray tube 1 so that the sensitive matter is advanced and wound up in the magazine 480 by the winding shaft or spool driven by the winding spool or shaft-driving toothed wheel 26.

When the adjustment rings 27a and 27b are rotated and held in position at the suitable positions, the force for pressing the pressure roller 46 becomes so uniform that the tracking deviation of the sensitive matter due to the lack of uniformity of the above-mentioned force can be prevented.

The present invention has been so far described with a particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit of the present invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claim.

lclaim:

l. A device for preventing tracking deviation in transporting sensitive material through an image printer, comprising:

a power source;

a driving roller actuated by said power source;

a first shaft;

a driven roller mounted on said first shaft and adapted to be engaged or disengaged with said driving roller;

a second shaft spaced from said first shaft;

a pair of adjusting elements selectively securable on said second shaft, one each of said elements respectively positioned adjacent each end of said second shaft 21 pair of supporting arms, each of said arms having an end thereof mounted respectively on each end of said second shaft, said arms being rotatable relative to said second shaft, the other end of each said arm being connected respectively to the ends of said first shaft;

a pair of biasing elements mounted on said second shaft, each biasing element located respectively at each end of said second shaft to apply bias in a rotative direction on the respective end of each said supporting arm, each said biasing element connected with a respective adjusting element for independent adjustment of said bias; and

engaging and disengaging means located between said shafts and adapted to selectively contact said arms to provide for engagement or disengagement of said rollers.

2. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which each said arm has a projecting portion surrounding a respective end of said second shaft, and each said adjusting element comprises a spring attached on one end to a respective adjusting element and attached on to the other end to one of sad projecting portions.

3. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which said engaging and disengaging means comprises rotatable cam means, and a lever is connected to said cam means and selectively operable to provide the rotation of said cam means.

4. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which brake means is selectively connectable to said driven roller to stop the rotation thereof. 

1. A device for preventing tracking deviation in transporting sensitive material through an image printer, comprising: a power source; a driving roller actuated by said power source; a first shaft; a driven roller mounted on said first shaft and adapted to be engaged or disengaged with said driving roller; a second shaft spaced from said first shaft; a pair of adjusting elements selectively securable on said second shaft, one each of said elements respectively positioned adjacent each end of said second shaft a pair of supporting arms, each of said arms having an end thereof mounted respectively on each end of said second shaft, said arms being rotatable relative to said second shaft, the other end of each said arm being connected respectively to the ends of said first shaft; a pair of biasing elements mounted on said second shaft, each biasing element located respectively at each end of said second shaft to apply bias in a rotative direction on the respective end of each said supporting arm, each said biasing element connected with a respective adjusting element for independent adjustment of said bias; and engaging and disengaging means located between said shafts and adapted to selectively contact said arms to provide for engagement or disengagement of said rollers.
 2. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which each said arm has a projecting portion surrounding a respective end of said second Shaft, and each said adjusting element comprises a spring attached on one end to a respective adjusting element and attached on to the other end to one of sad projecting portions.
 3. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which said engaging and disengaging means comprises rotatable cam means, and a lever is connected to said cam means and selectively operable to provide the rotation of said cam means.
 4. A device for preventing tracking deviation according to claim 1, in which brake means is selectively connectable to said driven roller to stop the rotation thereof. 